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2,955 items · Springboks
Sharks go top of URC log after late intercept try rescues win over Leinster
The Sharks beat Leinster 26-20 in Durban through two late tries to go top of the URC log, but were thoroughly outplayed in possession and territory, surviving on scrum dominance and Leinster indiscipline.
Sharks dismantle Leinster with Bok-powered scrum dominance
The Sharks beat Leinster 26-20 with a dominant scrum performance and returning Boks — Esterhuizen, Van der Merwe, Du Toit, Nche and Etzebeth — driving the win, while Leinster's high error rate and poor discipline undermined their competitive showing.
Dobson hails Kolisi's return as Stormers landmark beyond the playing field
John Dobson has hailed Siya Kolisi's return to the Stormers as transformative on and off the field, with the flanker's decision to join the squad on tour in Ireland — unprompted and fresh off Springbok duty — drawing particular praise from his coach and teammates ahead of his first Stormers appearance in six years.
Venter return pushed to 2027 as Lions manage growing injury list
Ruan Venter's return from his ACL, MCL and meniscus injury has been pushed to early 2027, with Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen providing updates on several other players following the side's 35-19 win over the Ospreys.
Bok management turned a redemption story into a PR disaster
The author argues Esterhuizen deserved the captaincy but Bok management turned a genuine redemption story into a PR mess by refusing to engage with his 2012 racial slur conviction — silence that left him exposed and undermined the team's hard-won reputation for lived, not merely advertised, transformation.
Os du Randt on what professionalism really cost the game
Du Randt uses his own career decisions — including his refusal to switch positions versus Thomas du Toit's acceptance of the same move — to argue that money has fundamentally rewired how players think, alongside pointed observations on youth pressure and the near-disappearance of on-field fighting.
Hansen: World Rugby's referee opacity is self-inflicted — and fixable
Hansen argues World Rugby's opaque referee structures — not the referees themselves — are the root problem, with ambiguous laws driving inconsistency and closed-door processes fuelling public distrust. McKenzie sharpens the critique by highlighting how World Rugby is actively restricting coach-referee engagement while the URC moves in the opposite direction.
Digby Ioane: Why the Wallabies' momentum is real and Kiss is the right man
Digby Ioane argues the Wallabies' revival under Kiss is built on genuine cultural and structural foundations — not just a hot streak — with the Perth win over the Boks framed as the clearest proof yet of where this squad is heading.
Kolisi's Stormers return a quiet one as lineout meltdown sinks Cape side
Planet Rugby's Edinburgh ratings dissect a Stormers defeat built on lineout dysfunction — Venter's early HIA exit and Paulo's wayward throws are identified as the critical fault lines, leaving Kolisi's comeback and the attack starved of platform.
Stormers' lineout chaos hands Edinburgh a second straight win — but reinforcements are coming
Edinburgh's 17-13 win hinged on a shattered Stormers lineout — Venter's HIA-forced exit proved the real turning point — but the piece argues the Capetonians are far from in crisis, with a large Springbok contingent set to return for the Sharks derby and Champions Cup push.
Kolisi's Stormers return ends in narrow Edinburgh defeat at the Hive
Siya Kolisi's second debut for the Stormers ended in disappointment as Edinburgh claimed a 17-13 victory in round two of the URC on Friday night. Two second-half converted tries proved decisive for the hosts at the Hive Stadium, with the visitors' lineout struggles undermining their efforts in difficult conditions. The defeat leaves John Dobson's side searching for answers ahead of the next fixture.
Edinburgh deny Kolisi a winning return as Stormers fall at the Hive
Edinburgh scored two converted second-half tries to deny Siya Kolisi a winning return to the Stormers in a narrow URC round-two defeat at the Hive.
Kolisi's Stormers return underwhelms as lineout woes sink the Cape side
A lineout that fell apart after Venter's HIA proved decisive, with Paulo's throwing singled out as the chief culprit. Kolisi's second Stormers debut was quietly adequate rather than impactful — a reflection of a team that couldn't give their backrowers anything to work with.
Stormers fall to Edinburgh as Venter concussion adds to Bok concerns
The Stormers lost 17-13 to Edinburgh at Hive Stadium in Round Two of the URC, with a lineout shambles and a concussion to hooker André-Hugo Venter — who faces a race to be fit for next weekend against the Sharks — central to the defeat.
Kolisi's long-haul detour tells the Stormers everything they need to know
Kolisi's decision to take the long way from Perth to Galway rather than sit out the week at home has made a strong impression on the Stormers squad — Dayimani and Hlungwani explain why the gesture matters as much as anything he'll do on the field.
Os du Randt on silencing the gremlins in his comeback mind
Os du Randt reflects on the internal battle that came with returning to Test rugby, and why winning over the Bok changeroom was the key to silencing his self-doubt.
Ben Smith: Brown's aerial chess game was the Springboks' series-winning edge
Ben Smith credits Tony Brown's tactical manipulation of the aerial battle as the decisive factor in South Africa's series win, arguing that Brown's ability to shift kick placement negated New Zealand's counter-adjustments and that the Boks' high-ball dominance — like their set-piece — is a systemised weapon that is brutally hard to defend under pressure.
Dobson hails Kolisi impact but stresses rugby contribution needed in Edinburgh
John Dobson has praised the immediate influence Siya Kolisi has brought to the Stormers since rejoining the Cape Town franchise, highlighting his leadership and presence. The director of rugby confirmed Kolisi will start at openside flank against Edinburgh on Friday, making his first appearance for the club in more than five years. Dobson emphasised that while Kolisi's off-field impact has been significant, the team's priority remains his on-field contribution.
Rest or go for glory? Rassie's November selection dilemma unpacked
Brendan Nel unpacks whether Rassie should rotate for the November Tests against Italy, France and Ireland — arguing the Nations Championship format actually creates space to test depth players without surrendering realistic trophy ambitions, while identifying back-up hooker and fullback as the positions most urgently needing answers before the World Cup.
Dobson's Springbok management plan: rest for most, but Kolisi straight in
Dobson explains why Kolisi went straight on tour while most other Stormers Boks got a week off — and what he actually expects Kolisi to contribute on the field.